FORTY- FIVE 

. F " 

PLAYERS' MANUAL. 




RULES FOR THE GAME 

ADOPTED BY 

The Forty-Five Players' Congress, 

HELD IN NEW YORK, 1875. 



FORTY- FIVE 

PLAYERS' MANUAL 



RULES FOR THE GAME 

/ 



AS LAID DOWN BY 



The Forty-Five Players' Congress, 

Holden ai New York, September^ ^873, 



COMPILED AND ARRATs'GED BV 



P. O'HARA- 




BOSTON: 
J. C. DONNELL & COMPANY. 

Wholesale Agents, 

J. S. LOCKE & CO., 23 FRANKLIN ST., BOSTON. 
NEW ENGLAND NEWS CO., 4I COURT ST., BOSTON. 
AMERICAN NEWS CO., 121 NASSAU ST., 
NEW YORK. 

r~ 

J r^-r 

7^ 



Copyright, 1875, 
BY J. S. LOCKE & CO. 



Franklin Press : 
Rand, Avery, and Company, 
Boston, 



INTRODUCTION. 



One of the most popular games of cards 
played in this country to-day among that por- 
tion of its citizens who claim their descent 
from the sons and daughters of the ' ' Emerald 
Isle," or who are natives of the " Gem of the 
Sea " themselves, is the game of Forty-five. It 
may be truly said to be the national game of 
Ireland ; and if, as has often been said, no race 
of people love the land of their birth with 
such fervor as the Irish, it is not surprising, 
that, in casting their lot in a foreign land, they 
have brought with them, cultivated, and popu- 
larized, one of the customs of their beloved 
country. 

It is a somewhat singular fact, that, in all 
the treatises that have been written on card- 
placing, little mention has been made of For- 
ty-five. It is simply alluded to, and passed 

3 



4 



INTRODUCTION. 



over, a general idea of the game given, but 
no definite arbitrary rules laid down for the 
guidance of those who play. As a result of 
this neglect, the game of Fort^^-five is pla3'ed 
to-day in a variety of ways ; and it is hard to 
get four players together who can agree on 
playing it alike. Of course, this condition of 
things has given rise to no small number of 
disputes, which have been impossible of settle- 
ment for the want of regularly defined rules. 

To remedy this condition of affairs, a con- 
gress of Forty-five-players was called in New 
York, when the rules contained in this Manual 
were drawn up, and after careful considera- 
tion, and thorough discussion, unanimousl}^ 
adopted. 

In order to place these rules in the hands 
of every player of Forty-five, it was decided 
to publish them in this form, at such a price 
as would enable every man to possess a copy. 

This Manual is not published for the use 
of the Whist-player, the Faro-player, or the 



INTPvODLXTION. 



5 



Euchre or Cribbage player. It is simply 
intended for the pla^^er of Forty-five. Those 
who play other games will find rules for their 
guidance in other and more expensive works 
which have been prepared for them, and in 
which the claims of the Fortj^-five-player have 
been sadly ignored. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



The origin of the game of Forty-five is hid- 
den in the obscurity of the past. Would that 
we could lift the veil, and reveal to the gaze 
of our readers the first four who gathered 
around a table to plaj^ the game ! Were they 
knights clad in armor from head to heel, who 

Drank the red wine through the helmet barr'd " ? 

Were they cultured Greeks in their flowing 
robes, who listened to the wisdom of Socrates, 
or the eloquence of Demosthenes? Did Di- 
ogenes ever turn his tub bottom up, and invite 
Plato, Midias, and Anaximenes to play him a 
game of Forty-five ? For all we know, a quiet 
game may have soothed Coriolanus in his 
exile. It may have been a favorite game 
when Ireland was noted for her culture among 
the nations of the earth, when the arts and 

7 



8 



FORTY-FIVE. 



sciences were cultivated and flourished from 
Ulster to Connaught, and from Galway to Dub- 
lin, long, long before the foot of the ruthless 
invader had pressed her sacred soil. But, no 
matter when or where it had its origin, it is a 
fact that the game is one of the most fascinat- 
ing among the many games of cards. Simple 
as it is said to be, to play it well requires the 
exercise of all the faculties of the mind. The 
player must be ever on the alert. Hoyle may 
praise Whist, Schenck laud Poker, and Mor- 
risse}^ admire Faro ; but, for a quiet social 
game, give us Fort^^-five. Burns, the Scotch 
poet, evidently had a knowledge of Forty-five ; 
for in that admirable poem of his, " The 
Epistle to Davie," he saj's, — 

" But tent * me, Davie, ace o' hearts ! 
To say aught less wad wrang the cartes, 
And flattery I detest." 

Why did he call Davie "ace of hearts"? 
Because Davie was a trump, and in Forty-five 
* Mark. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



9 



the ace of hearts is alwaj^s a trump. Much 
might be written and said about Fortj^-five ; 
but we content ourselves, at this stage, b}^ giv- 
ing the following verses, which were written 
expressly for this Manual, and which aptly 
describe the game. 

MRS. MURPHY'S CARD-PARTY. 

BY GEORGE RUSSELL JACKSON. 

Terence O'Day and John Muldoon, 

Mike Casey and Pat Shea, 
Sat down one blustering winter-night 

A game of cards to play : 
The nights were long, and each one wished 

To while an hour away. 

So Mrs. Murphy brought the cards ; 

(Faix, how that widow thrives ! 
And well she may ; for every boy, 

To give her a living, strives) 
And round the table they took their seats, 

To pla}^ at Forty-fives. 



10 



FORTY-FIVE. 



They cut for partners ; and O'Day 
Was matched with John Miildoon, 

Against Mike Casey and Pat Shea, 
Eesolved to whack them soon ; 

But Mike and Pat said thej' might live 
To sing another tune. 

They played from eight till ten o'clock, 

And then on to eleven ; 
And when the clock was striking — faix ! 

'Twas found they just stood even. 
(A state of things ^^ou'U find few men 

Quite ready to believe in.) 

They then resolved on one more game ; 

And now began the fun : 
Ould Carroll's daughter and Tim Murphy, 

Mistress Murphy's son, 
Left off their courtin' , and came round 

To see the last game won. 

Tom Scanlan put aside his pipes ; 
The bo3^s and girls stopped dancin' ; 



FORTY-FIVE. 

And ould lame Barney Muiligan 
Came round the table prancin', — 

All eager now to watch the game. 
(Faith ! I am not romancin'.) 

Mike Casey cut ; and then Muldoon 
Dealt, and turned up a spade ; 

Pat Shea led with the ten of hearts ; 
The king, O'Day then,pla3^ed. 

Mike Case}^ robbed, and played a trump, 
Sayin% ''Boj's, I ain't afraid." 

But Muldoon played the deuce of spades, 
And then picked up the trick : 

" Begorra ! " says Mike Casey, John, 
Yez did that mighty quick." 

But O'Day laughed, and said, " Muldoon 
Faix, bo}^ ! but you're a brick." 

Muldoon then led the four of clubs ; 
And Pat Shea played the trey ; * 

* Three spot. 



12 



FORTY-FIVE. 



O'Day slapped down the king of spades 

''Ah, beautiful O'Day ! " 
Said Barney Mulligan ; but he 

Was tould to go away. 

Mike Casey plaj^ed the eight of clubs ; 

The trick was then O'Day's : 
He led off with the ace of clubs, 

Sayin', " Beat that, if ye plaze ! " 
Mike Case}^ played the king of clubs, 

And said, '' Ah ! go yer waj's." 

Muldoon threw down the five of clubs ; 

And Pat Shea played the queen ; 
While Barney Mulligan called out. 

The likes I never seen, 
Av such a run av clubs before, 

Wherever I have been ! ' ' 

Mike Casey threw a diamond down, 
And that same was the king ; 

Muldoon then played on that the ten ; 
Pat Shea the ace did fling ; 



FORTY-FIYE. 



O'Day on that did lay the queen, 

Sajm', " Diamonds round the ring ; " 

Mike Casey took the trick, of course, 
Because he led the king. 

'Twas then ould Carroll's daughter cried, 
" Tim Murphy, fie for shame ! " 

" What ! Shame for only squeezin' ye 
When lookin' on the game ? ' ' 

And ould lame Barney laughed, and said, 
The b'y is not to blame." 

And now they're all excited, sure : 
There's just one trick to play ; 

Each side has got two tricks apiece, 
The next one wins the day. 

Mike Casey threw the ace of spades, 
And cried, " Now blaze away ! " 

Muldoon threw down the ace of hearts ; 

Pat Shea a tune was hurnmin' , 
•"^ Musha, look out there now ! " he cried, 
The Jack of Spades is comin' ; " 



14 



FORTY-FIVE. 



But O'Day the five fingers threw, 
And cried, "Ah! paj^ the woman.'' 

Mike Casey and Pat Shea played off. 

And each to win did strive : 
Pat Shea was stuck, and paid the beer, 

Faix ! sure as I'm alive. 
That was the end of that same game, — 

That game of Forty-five. 

Tom Scanlan then screwed up his pipes, 

And he looked mighty big ; 
And Barney Mulligan on a chair 

Did throw his hat and wig. 
And with ould Carroll's daughter he 

Did dance an Irish jig. 

Round and round the floor they went 

As fast as they could drive : 
When all was done, the pla3^ers said, 

That, if they were alive. 
They'd meet again another night 

To play at Forty -five. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



15 



KULES OF THE GAME OF FORTY-FIVE. 

FROM WHICH THERE IS NO DEVIATION. 

The game is played with the full pack, fifty- 
two cards. 

It is usually played by four persons ; and the 
game is always more interesting when plaj^ed 
by partners, two against two. Partners and 
opponents sit side by side alternatelj^ ; that is, 
if A and B are partners and C and I) partners, 
C shall sit on the left of A, B on the left of C, 
and D on the left of B. 

Five cards are dealt out to each person, — 
two the first round, and three the second, or 
vice versa. 

The person on the right of the dealer will 
cut the cards ; and the dealer, after dealing 
out five cards to each person in the manner 
described, will turn the next card, which shall 
be trump. 

The person on the left of the dealer shall 



16 



FORTY-FIVE. 



lead ; and the deal shall, in all cases, pass to 
the left in rotation. 

The following is the rank and order of the 
cards when trumps ; — 



:lubs and spades. 


DIAMONDS. 


HEARTS. 


Five. 


Five. 


Five. 


Knave. 


Knave. 


Knave. 


Ace of Hearts. 


Ace of Hearts. 


Ace. 


Ace. 


Ace. 


King. 


King. 


King. 


Queen. 


Queen. 


Queen. 


Ten. 


Two. 


Ten. 


Nine. 


Three. 


Mne. 


Eight. 


Four. 


Eight. 


Seven. 


Six. 


Seven. 


Six. 


Seven. 


Six. 


Four. 


Eight. 


Four. 


Three. 


Nine. 


Three. 


Two, 13 in all. 


Ten, 14 in all. 


Two, 14 in all. 





Rank and order, when not trumps. 

CLUBS AND SPADI.S. DIAMONDS. HEARTS. 

King. King. King. 

Queen. Queen. Queen. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



17 





Knave. 


Knave. 


A-Ce. 


±en. 


i.en. 


± wo. 


iTine. 


Nine. 


±111 ee. 


jiiignt. 


xLigni. 


Four. 


Seven. 


Seven. 


Five. 


Six. 


Six. 


Six. 


Five* 


Five. 


Seven. 


Four. 


Four. 


Eight. 


Three. 


Three. 


Nine. 


Two. 


Two, 12 ill all. 



Ten, 13 in all. Ace, 13 in all. 

The player can rob with the ace only. The 
system of robbing with the king of trumps 
when the ace is not out destroys the beauty 
of the game ; and it is not a proper game of 
Forty-five when it is practised. The Idng can- 
not rob under any circumstances. 

When the dealer turns up the ace, he must 
discard as soon as he has arranged his cards, 
and before the leading card is thrown. 

The holder of the five of trumps can revoke 
when he pleases, no matter what trump-card 
is led ; and the holder of the knave of trumps 



18 



FORTY-FIVE. 



can revoke from any card but the five ; and 
the holder of the ace of hearts can revoke 
from any card but the knave or five of trumps. 

Each trick counts to the winner five ; but the 
holder of the best trump counts ten, for the 
trick he takes with it. Thus if one side take 
four tricks, and the other side take only one 
trick, if the latter hold the best trump, they 
will count ten, and the other side twent}^ ; but, 
if the side which has taken four tricks hold 
the best trump, they shall count twenty-five, 
and the other side only five, When all the 
tricks are taken b}^ one side, it is called a jenk, 
and counts a game. 

The ace of hearts is a privileged card, and 
is always trump, ranking as the third best 
card in the pack. When it is turned up by 
the dealer, however, it makes the trump hearts, 
and calls for its suit, being in this respect 
unlike the ''Joker" in Euchre, which, while 
always trump, can never make one, as it is 
supposed to be a blank card. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



19 



When the dealer turns up the ace of hearts, 
and hearts are led, say the king, queen, ten, 
or any other card, but the five or knave, the 
holder of the ace may revoke, if he has no 
suit, even though the leading card may be 
covered by the five, or Jack, or both. In all 
cases, it is the leading card that calls ; and 
the ace of hearts may be revoked from any 
card of lower value than itself. 

Should spades, diamonds, or clubs be trump, 
and the ace of hearts be led, the players must 
either trump, or follow suit. This rule is im- 
perative to the correct pla^^ing of Forty-five. 
If spades be trump, and a player has no spade, 
and only one heart, say the king, in his hand, 
if the ace of hearts be led, he must follow suit 
with his king ; for if the ace of hearts must 
follow suit when the five or knave is played, if 
there is no saver, then the king or queen must 
follow suit when the ace is led, if there is no 
saver. This has long been a disputed ques- 
tion ; but, after careful consideration of the 



20 



FORTY-FIVE. 



privileges possessed by the ace of hearts, the 
question has been thus decided, and set at rest 
forever. 

When a pla^^er has scored thirty-five, and 
finds on the next deal that he holds the five of 
trumps, he may throw the five on the table, 
even though it is not his turn to play, because 
he has the game certain in his hand ; and it is 
useless for the other players to waste time in 
playing against sure defeat. It lengthens the 
game to no purpose^ because there is no chance 
of winning against the five of trumps when 
the holder has scored thirty-five. 

The ace of diamonds is the lowest card in 
the pack when not trump : when it is trump, it 
ranks fourth, coming next below the ace of 
hearts. 

There should be no talking when a game is 
in progress, and lookers-on should not be 
allowed to make comments. 

The winner of a trick must pick up the 
trick before playing again, because disputes 



FORTY-FIVE. 



often arise, when the tricks are piled upon each 
other, as to who they belong to : when the 
trick is picked up each time, there cannot be 
any dispute. 

In cutting for deal, the lowest will take the 
deal, whether the cards be black or red ; thus 
if a player cut the deuce of spades, and another 
the trey of diamonds, he who cut the deuce 
of spades will deal. The honors, in cutting 
for deal, will hold their own rank as when not 
trumps. Thus if the ace of spades be cut 
against the king of spades, clubs, diamonds, 
or hearts, the ace will take the deal. If the 
king of clubs, spades, diamonds, or hearts, be 
cut against the ace of diamonds, the deal will 
go to the ace. Should two kings or two aces 
be cut, the players will cut again. In cutting 
for deal, the king * is the highest card. The 
five will rank in its own place with the other 
spot-cards. The universal adoption of this 



* Except the ace of hearts. 



22 



FORTY-FIYE. 



rule will save all disputes in cutting for deal 
This rule is also applicable in making partners ; 
the two lowest taking sides against the two 
highest. 

When the two losing partners play off, they 
shall play one game, or the best two out of 
three, as they may themselves decide. If one 
wishes to play only one, and the other the 
best two out of three they shall cut ; and the^ 
lowest will have his choice. 

Partners shall under no circumstances what- 
ever be allow^ed to show their hands to each 
other, or make any signs across the table : any 
player guilty of such conduct, if discovered, 
shall forfeit the game. The game was 
designed to promote social enjoyment ; and it 
should always be played fair. 

A dealer making a misdeal shall lose his 
deal ; but the dealer has a right to spread the 
cards, and count them before turning the 
trump, and correct himself, if he fancies he 
has made a wrong deal. 



FORTY-FIVE. 



23 



The cards must be sliiiffled and cut for each 
deal to avoid disputes. Should a plaj^er be 
discovered to have not followed suit when 
trumps were led, he will forfeit the game. 

If a player throws a card that is not suit or 
a trump, and finds that he has suit, he ma^^ be 
allowed to correct himself ; but he must do so 
before the next person plays, or he will forfeit 
all claim to the game. 

In cutting, not less than three cards shall 
be lifted from the top of the pack. 




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